That's why they hired him, as head coach, away from the Sixers on May 11 after a 24-58 season. Pierce had success running the Sixers defense as an assistant. But most important, he experienced the ups and downs of a rebuilding process.
In addition to that first-hand knowledge, Pierce apparently took the Sixers' trademark grit to Atlanta. He and the Hawks will bring a 2-3 record into Monday night's game against the Sixers (3-3) at the Wells Fargo Center. The matchup will mark Pierce's first game vs. his former team.
"I'm just reminded of how cold it is.